Company founded by evangelical radio star Dave Ramsey is sued by employee who says she was fired for being pregnant – but business claims she was booted for having premarital sex, which violates their ‘righteous living’ policy
- Caitlin O’Connor was fired from Ramsey Solutions last June after she told bosses she was pregnant
- She filed a lawsuit against the company claiming she was a victim of gender discrimination
- But Ramsey Solutions have hit back, saying O’Connor was terminated because she had premarital sex
- O’Connor – who was not married at the time she fell pregnant – is one of nine employees who have been booted from the company for having premartial sex
- The media and events company – founded by evangelical Dave Ramsey – has a ‘righteous living’ policy that requires employees to practice Christian behavior
A woman claims she was fired from evangelical radio star Dave Ramsey’s company because she fell pregnant.
Former administrative assistant Caitlin O’Connor filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee-based Ramsey Solutions late last year, alleging bosses gave her the boot when she told them she was expecting.
O’Connor alleges her termination is a violation of the Family Medical Leave Act and says she was discriminated against because of her gender.
But in a motion to dismiss the case, Ramsey Solutions now says O’Connor was actually terminated because she had premarital sex.
Ramsey Solutions – a media and events company – say they have terminated at least eight other employees for engaging in premarital sex since 2015. Sex outside of marriage is a violation of the company’s ‘core values’.
Five of those terminated have been me. Thus, the company claims that O’Connor was in no way discriminated against because she is a woman.
O’Connor was not married to her partner at the time she announced her pregnancy, meaning that she inadvertently admitted to having sex outside of wedlock.
Tennessee is an ‘at-will state’ meaning private companies are able to fire employees for reasons not protected by law.
A woman claims she was fired from evangelical radio star Dave Ramsey’s company because she fell pregnant. Ramsey’s business has hit back saying she was booted for having premarital sex – a violation of its values
Caitlin O’Connor filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee-based Ramsey Solutions late last year, alleging bosses gave her the boot when she told them she was expecting last June
According to a report in The Tennessean, Ramsey has a list of 14 core values that he has described as ‘righteous living.’
According to the motion submitted by Ramsey Solutions, the company ‘does not maintain an exhaustive list of conduct that can lead to employee discipline because ‘it is neither practical nor required’.
Rather, the company’s handbook simply states: ‘Should a team member engage in behavior not consistent with traditional Judeo-Christian values or teaching, it would damage the image and the value of our good will and our brand.
‘If this should occur, the team member would be subject to review, probation, or termination.’
O’Connor claims the fact that the company handbook does not explicitly ban premarital sex is crucial.
She says her interpretation of Christianity does not preclude sex outside of marriage.
O’Connor says she believes that ‘Christianity should not be punitive, hateful, vengeful, or judgmental’ and that it does not ‘give a right to invade people’s private lives.’
According to a report in The Tennessean, Ramsey has a list of 14 core values that he described as ‘righteous living’
Meanwhile, one legal scholar told The Tennessean that termination for premarital sex may actually still be discriminatory to women, because male employees are more easily able to hide such activities.
‘It is going to be more obvious if a woman is engaging in premarital sex than a man [if she falls pregnant],’ the professor stated.
Ramsey Solutions is based in the city of Franklin and boasts several hundred employees.
The company hit headlines last year when it hosted a maskless indoor Christmas party in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramsey – who has a popular syndicated radio show – has expressed skepticism as to the severity of the coronavirus.
Ramsey Solutions is based in the city of Franklin and boasts several hundred employees
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